Unicorn is a god. He demands servitude and sacrifice. He stands out of reach, as fixed and brilliant as the stars. Serried ranks of unicorns keep guard like anthracite statues on the outer edges of our universe. Starlight catches on their horns; their molded flanks glisten with power.
Hail, Unicorn! God of knowledge, a dark ghost on the fringes of man's consciousness, a pewter shadow in the leafless deserts of the mind.
--- Josephine Bradley, In Pursuit Of The Unicorn (1980)
My first encounter with a unicorn was when I was little older than three. I was sleeping and I had a dream I was in a completely white room. There was a mirror that covered the wall on one side. I think it might have had golden edges, but its hard to say. Honestly, I was very young and I wasn't concerned about the mirror, only that I knew it was magical. I stared into it and suddenly I saw it warping white an silver. With a crash, I saw a magnificent white unicorn leap from the mirror. Shards of glass scattered everywhere. I think I might have screamed from the noise and glass. However, I was holding a stuffed unicorn and I know I was very happy. I don't remember any more of the dream.
The unicorn is one of the oldest mythological beings. It has traveled through lore as a single horned bull, antelope, horse, dragon and many other manifestations. It has been throughout Asia, Europe, the Americas and further....it has pranced through tapestries, bestiaries, sculptures, paintings and more....It has been found on cave walls and has been featured in modern movies. It is easy to say that the unicorn is one of the most popular legendary creatures, and its popularity can only grow.
Unicorns vary in appearance, but the most commonly accepted version is a single horned alabaster horse with a lions tail, beard and tufted legs. The unicorn has also been as small as a cat or been larger than a skyscraper. The unicorn has been a symbol of gods, demons, witches, Jesus and nearly every other archetype it seems. To me, the unicorn is the Horned God...or it is the sliver of the moon, whose sharp new moon shape is the sharpened horn. The unicorn is Artemis, Demeter, Pan....it is the horse, the child, the fae....
Many people think that you need to be a virgin in order to draw a unicorn. This is primarily a Christian concept and although its origins are shady, from what my research has been able to tell me it is contradictory to the original unicorn idea. The unicorn may only come to those who are pure of intention and possess a virtue beyond that the body can hold. It has normally been a divine being of goodness, however, that also has changed over the years.
The unicorn first appeared in mythology 3000 BCE in China and there were active sightings up until 1820. Although many people these days attest to seeing the magnificent creature, they are often ignored or discredited. Regardless of whether or not the unicorn exists, it is a creature of inspiration and power. Either way, the unicorn is a powerful symbol for myself and for people everywhere.
Unicorn Traits: getting where you want, virile, penetrating, libido, strength, purity, power, magick, elusive, solitary, selfless, immune to poison, ferocity, rain, immortality, serenity, nobility, alchemy, innocence, sacredness, chastity, good fortune, new life, intuition, subliminal sex, religiousness, sacrifice, gracefulness, love, wisdom, trust, sensitivity, protection, dreams, although the unicorn is a female archetype, the horse-like body and horn are male symbols, representing a combination of male and female, or mystic marriage, best displayed by the Ki-lin. In some medieval mythology, the unicorn and deer in the forest represented the three-fold nature of humans. In this mythology, the forest represented the body, the deer the soul and the unicorn the spirit.
Goddesses/Gods: Diana, Artemis (they pulled her Chariot of Chastity), Demeter (In some stories it is said that the cornucopia was inspired by the unicorn), Horned God, some moon gods and goddesses, Amalthea (more of a magical goat than god, whose horn was said to break off to form the cornucopia. Now, it is also the name of the unicorn in The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, which has flavored modern unicorn mythology extensively). The triple goddess corresponds to the unicorn, in that, the three colors of the Greek alicorn correspond with the three colors of the goddess. The unicorn is related to Ra and Sirus because of the unicorn's relation to the Egyptian Obelisk. The horn represents the sword/horn of the Judeo god.
Astrology: During the reign of Englands James I and before, the female unicorn was accepted as a symbol of the moon. The sun and moon's nighttime dance was seen as a male lion pursuing a unicorn. As the moon waned, it meant the lion was eating away at the unicorn. Finally, the unicorn's horn would become deadly sharp, honing for the unicorn's defense (sliver moon, holy horn). Then, the unicorn would fight back, waxing, healing until it was whole and powerful. Then, the chase would continue again. During an eclipse, it was believed that the unicorn won the battle.
The Lion-sun flies from the rising
Unicorn-moon and hides behind the
Tree or Grove of the Underworld;
the Moon pursues, and, sinking in
her turn, is sun slain.
— Robert Brown, the Unicorn: A Mythological Investigation (1881)
The unicorn is the spiritually advanced Capricorn. The two horns blending into one to create a single, powerful horn, this animal is called the "unicorn of God." In Celtic moon astrology the holly tree symbolizes July 8-August 4 and is represented by the unicorn.
Elements: The unicorn's main element is Spirit (Energy, Akasha, ect). However, the unicorn's various powers attribute it to other elements as well. Depending on the specific unicorn, religious tradition and the individual unicorn has powers over other elements. Most unicorns display some kinship to earth and water.
Heraldry: The unicorn of heraldry was granted more nobility than previous writers had attributed to the animal. Following the lore of Physiologus's Christian unicorn, but giving the unicorn powerful horse-like hybrid strength created a newer, more powerful unicorn. The unicorn was on the English coat of arms, the Royal Arms of Scotland. The unicorn's aristocratic position was supported by the belief that the singular horn was representative of a singular monarchy or king...or a singular god...singular direction...ect....
In 15th century heraldry, the unicorn was often depicted collared. This symbolism may represent the raw nature passions of the unicorn being tamed. In more common images however, the chain binding the unicorn is shattered. This may mean that represent the breaking free of bondage and the refusal to be taken once again.
Complimentary Creatures (These are creatures which are complimentary, adversaries or opposite the unicorn or its magick. They can create a yin-yang effect): Lion, Griffon, Dragon, Maiden/Virgin/Woman/Girl, tiger (Asian), dove (according to Jung the unicorn can shapeshift from a vicious unicorn into a gentle dove)
Associated Mythical Creatures: Dragon, Griffon,White Hart, Phoenix, Capricorn, Tortoise
Magick: Healing, protection, power, guidance, immortality, spirituality, Magick, concealment, purification, psychic power, gentleness, fertility, alchemical quest, curing the loss of innocence, sexuality, imagination, solitude, communicating with animals, knowledge of fauna, love/devotion, faeries, divination, serenity, dreams, astral flight, levitation, transformation
Locations: Beach, secluded/wild locations, meadows, glades, forests, waterfalls, under apple trees, faery realm, some "heavens," Egyptian Obelisks.
Times: Dusk, dawn, 'tween times, solstices, equinoxes (particularly autumn, the unicorn mating season), moonlit nights, first frost, mornings, Tinne, Lammas, Sunset, sunrise, the full moon, August, dog days of cirus renders the alicorn as a symbol of power,
Flora: some flowers, apple, cinnamon, cedar, wild holly, wild strawberries, sugar maple, lilacs. (the unicorn is said to hide its treasure in a maple box buried under an apple tree), clover (especially red clover), apple blossoms, centaury, chicory, ferns, mosses, unicorn root (aletris farinosa)
Fauna: birds, nightingale, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, nuthatches, deer, horses, dragonflies*, butterflies, swans, peacocks* and colorful beetles*, doves, honeybees (because most unicorns love honey), Tortoise, pheasant, sword fish, unicorn fish
